Level Ground Inc.
Level Ground Inc. is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Level Ground Productions, an award-winning documentary film company, and Level Ground Collective, an artist incubator supporting Black, brown, trans, and queer artists through production, residency, and educational programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Level Ground Inc. does
Level Ground Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California, founded in 2014 and operating through two integrated arms: Level Ground Productions, an award-winning documentary film production company, and Level Ground Collective, a nonprofit artist collective and incubator. The organization supports Black, brown, trans, and queer artists through three interdependent programs—the Production Incubator (which has supported 100+ project directors since 2014), the Residency Program (16 resident artists across 6 cohorts since 2017), and Social Practice Labs—and produces documentary features and shorts on urgent socio-political issues including labor rights, gender-based violence, transgender history, and political representation. Notable productions include UNION (2024), which was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and won the Sundance U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for the Art of Change; Framing Agnes (2022), winner of Sundance's NEXT Innovator Award and GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary; No Ordinary Man; State of Firsts (premiering at Tribeca 2025); The Nest (premiering at Hot Docs 2025); and the forthcoming Canadian docuseries How To Buy A Country (Toronto, June 2026).
The organization operates on an approximately $600,000 annual budget funded primarily through private foundation support (~$400,000), public grants from the California Arts Council, LA County Arts and Culture Grant Program, LA Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts (~$100,000), a Patron Program of recurring monthly or annual donations (~$50,000), and earned revenue from events and financial collaboration programs (~$50,000). Distribution occurs through major festivals (Sundance, Tribeca, Toronto, Hot Docs), theatrical and digital distribution partners (Kino Lorber, Mongrel Media, Blue Ant Media), and streaming platforms (Tubi, Kanopy, Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu). The Collective holds decision-making authority over organizational direction, and the company is represented by WME for talent. Co-founders Samantha Curley (Producer) and Chase Joynt (Director) lead the organization alongside Co-Director Tamisha A. Tyler, supported by a board including Sarika Sanyal, Myles Markham, Sonia Guiñansaca, Chance Calloway, and Shontel Horne.
Business model mechanics rest on the dual-entity structure: the production arm generates award-winning content that drives brand prestige, festival access, and downstream commissioned work (e.g., the 2025 Kering Foundation Caring for Women Fundraiser series), while the nonprofit collective provides the governance backbone, artist pipeline, and patron base that underwrites the ~$600K operating budget. There is no proprietary technology platform; the underlying "technology" is genre-blending documentary craft and a community-governed artist development model.
Level Ground Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Level Ground Inc.
- Legal name
- Level Ground
- Website
- https://levelground.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Level Ground Inc. is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Level Ground Productions, an award-winning documentary film company, and Level Ground Collective, an artist incubator supporting Black, brown, trans, and queer artists through production, residency, and educational programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Level Ground Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Documentary Film Production and Nonprofit Artist Incubation
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Performing Arts Companies (7111)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Creator Content Production & Co-Creation Studios (BPAFAHAD)
Keywords
Where Level Ground Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Level Ground Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Support: Approximately $400,000 annually from private foundations supporting the organization's work.
- Grants: Approximately $100,000 annually from grants (applying to 2-3 grants monthly for program, project, and general operating expenses). Supporters include California Arts Council, LA County Arts and Culture Grant Program, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts.
- Patron Program: Approximately $50,000 annually from recurring monthly or annual donations from Patrons. Patrons receive perks including annual art prints, event invites, merchandise discounts, quarterly newsletters, and digital publication downloads.
- Earned Revenue: Approximately $50,000 annually from event tickets, financial collaboration programs, and other earned income sources.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Patron Program - Recurring donations at any amount |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Level Ground Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Level Ground produces and distributes award-winning documentary films and short-form non-fiction through Level Ground Productions, while operating Level Ground Collective as a nonprofit artist collective and incubator offering residency programs, a production incubator, social practice labs, and patron membership to support Black, brown, trans, and queer artists across development, production, exhibition, and distribution.
Product overview
Level Ground Inc. operates as a dual-entity organization comprising Level Ground Productions (a documentary film production company) and Level Ground Collective (a nonprofit artist collective and incubator). Level Ground Productions produces award-winning documentary features and shorts exploring urgent socio-political issues while pushing the boundaries of form, with notable films including UNION, Framing Agnes, No Ordinary Man, State of Firsts, and Survivor Made. The Collective supports Black, brown, trans, and queer artists through three interdependent programs: the Residency Program (providing financial, creative, and care support to emerging artists since 2017), the Production Incubator (offering project development, production, and distribution resources for experimental and nonfiction filmmakers since 2014), and Social Practice Labs (artist-led seminars studying collective liberation and abolition frameworks). The organization also publishes SKEW Magazine and maintains a Project Archive of past works. Both entities share values of artistic experimentation, collaboration, and commitment to social change.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Production Incubator: Program supporting experimental and nonfiction filmmakers with resources for project development, production, and distribution
- Residency Program
- Social Practice Labs
- SKEW Magazine
Products and services
- Level Ground Productions
Quantifiable outcome
- Supported 100+ project directors since 2014
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Level Ground Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Level Ground Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Level Ground Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kering FoundationcoreDrew Denny directed four short documentaries for Kering Foundation's Caring for Women Fundraiser. The films premiered at the event which raised $4.5 million, setting a record. Partner organizations featured: Equality Now, Sanctuary for Families, Violence Intervention Program, FreeFrom.
- FreeFromcoreFreeFrom is the community partner for Survivor Made documentary. The film follows survivors building businesses and lobbying for change, with FreeFrom working to end gender-based violence through economic freedom.
- NFB (National Film Board of Canada)coreNFB is listed as a supporter of Level Ground Productions, providing production support and co-production opportunities for documentary projects.
- Telefilm CanadacoreTelefilm Canada Talent Fund is listed as a supporter of Level Ground Productions, providing funding and support for Canadian talent.
- Hot DocscoreHot Docs is listed as a supporter of Level Ground Productions, providing festival platform and pitch opportunities.
- XTRcoreXTR is listed as a supporter of Level Ground Productions, providing production support and distribution opportunities.
- International Documentary Association (IDA)coreIDA supports Level Ground Productions through grants and professional development resources.
- Field of VisioncoreField of Vision is listed as a supporter of Level Ground Productions, providing production and distribution support.
- Kino LorbercoreKino Lorber handles theatrical and digital distribution for Level Ground films including Framing Agnes.
- Mongrel MediacoreMongrel Media handles Canadian distribution for Level Ground films including Framing Agnes.
- Blue Ant MediaminorBlue Ant Media is a distribution partner for Level Ground films.
- WME (William Morris Endeavor)coreWME represents Level Ground talent. Contact agents: Maggie Pisacane ([email protected]) and Addie Poris ([email protected]).
- With You ProductionsminorWith You is a recent collaborator on Level Ground Collective production incubator projects.
- Culture HouseminorCulture House is a recent collaborator on Level Ground Collective production incubator projects.
- Durden & RaycoreDurden & Ray collaborated with Level Ground on Blooming in the Whirlwind installation and is a gallery partner for exhibitions.
- LA ArtcorecoreLA Artcore is a gallery partner where Level Ground residency artists exhibit their work.
- SoverncoreSovern is a gallery partner where Level Ground residency artists exhibit their work.
- NAVELcoreNAVEL is a gallery partner where Level Ground residency artists exhibit their work.
- DMA: Social Software (UCLA)minorUCLA's DMA: Social Software initiative is a gallery and programming partner for Level Ground.
- The Center (Center for Family and Criminal Justice)minorThe Center is a collaborator on Social Practice Labs, providing expertise in restorative justice and abolition frameworks.
- Tiny SplendorminorTiny Splendor is a collaborator on Social Practice Labs, providing print services and creative support.
- Reparations ClubminorReparations Club is a collaborator on Social Practice Labs.
- Octavia's BookshelfminorOctavia's Bookshelf is a collaborator on Social Practice Labs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Level Ground Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ARRAY: Distribution and production collective founded by Ava DuVernay, dedicated to amplifying work by people of color and underrepresented filmmakers. Directly comparable as both a production entity and a filmmaker-support ecosystem.
- Kartemquin Films: Chicago-based nonprofit documentary production company with a 50+ year track record of supporting independent filmmakers. Highly comparable mission and structure to Level Ground — both operate as 501(c)(3)s producing issue-driven documentaries with a focus on underheard voices.
- XTR: Documentary production and streaming company that is also an active partner of Level Ground. Highly comparable in its documentary focus and audience-development approach, with similar genre-pushing sensibility.
- Moxie Firecracker Films: Independent documentary production company producing work by and about women and underrepresented communities. Closely comparable to Level Ground's Productions arm in both subject matter focus and independent, mission-driven structure.
- Firelight Media: Nonprofit documentary production company founded by Stanley Nelson, focused on supporting Black filmmakers and producing films about the Black experience. Directly comparable to Level Ground's Collective + Productions model and mission-driven approach.
- Field of Vision: Documentary production company producing short, feature, and episodic nonfiction work on social and political issues. Active partner of Level Ground, with directly comparable creative mandate and filmmaker-support model.
- Sandbox Films: Documentary production company focused on science, social impact, and art-driven nonfiction. Directly comparable in producing prestige, festival-friendly documentaries with strong impact framing.
- Multitude Films: Independent documentary production company producing socially engaged, artful nonfiction. Directly comparable creative sensibility and subject-matter focus to Level Ground Productions.
Broad incumbents
- Participant Media: Large-scale entertainment company producing narrative films and documentaries with social impact themes. Overlaps with Level Ground on documentary subject matter and impact framing, but operates at significantly greater scale across a broader content portfolio.
Others
- Catapult Film Fund: Documentary development funder that supports Level Ground through grants. Not a competitor but a direct ecosystem peer and partner, indicative of the institutional funding network Level Ground operates within.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Level Ground Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceLevel Ground Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Level Ground Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Level Ground Inc. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Level Ground Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Level Ground Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Level Ground Inc.
What does Level Ground Inc. do?
Level Ground produces and distributes award-winning documentary films and short-form non-fiction through Level Ground Productions, while operating Level Ground Collective as a nonprofit artist collective and incubator offering residency programs, a production incubator, social practice labs, and patron membership to support Black, brown, trans, and queer artists across development, production, exhibition, and distribution.
Is Level Ground Inc. a public or private company?
Level Ground Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Level Ground Inc. founded?
Level Ground Inc. was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Level Ground Inc. based?
Level Ground Inc. is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Level Ground Inc. make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Foundation Support is the primary driver. The others are grants, patron Program and earned Revenue.
Who are Level Ground Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ARRAY, Kartemquin Films, XTR, Moxie Firecracker Films, Firelight Media, Field of Vision, Sandbox Films and Multitude Films. Participant Media is listed as a broad incumbent. Catapult Film Fund is listed as an others.
Does Level Ground Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Level Ground Inc..
What industry is Level Ground Inc. in?
Level Ground Inc.'s product category is Independent Documentary Film Production and Nonprofit Artist Incubation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAJ, Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAFAHAD, Creator Content Production & Co-Creation Studios. Its NAICS code is 512 and its SIC code is 7812.